Today an article from FOX Business discussing the overall approach to impact strategy.

Thanks incidentally for all the feedback this past week. It’s very encouraging to hear constructive criticism and all praise is always welcome! It’s intriguing how the SIB sector is growing out but also fascinating to watch the pushback amongst a swathe of the NGO sector as there is reluctance to grasp the changing reality of funding – e.g. the government avenue will continue to decline (perhaps sharply, depending on jurisdiction).

And no, I don’t say such things to encourage a few more unsubscribes but because our practical business background has provided exposure to multiple such upheavals driven by technology and global progress. Often trends look terrifying to incumbents but there’s no point in denying the truth that is the future of funding. We’re in SIBs because we like bottom up solutions which demonstrate accountability and tangible benefits addressing end needs. This message goes down badly with a vast swathe of the NGO sector who are too busy making emotive videos and chasing more government cash to realise their own position in the food chain of social usefulness is a lot more precarious than their egos allow them to consider. Alas it also feels some days as if they don’t care about the end at all, just maintaining their own bureaucracies.

Interestingly, those who don’t like our SIB-centric message don’t engage, they just unsubscribe, occasionally abusing us for our temerity to endorse change. Worryingly a number of these people are publicly endorsing the SIB concept but given their disinterest in SIB News, I am minded to believe they are not really keen on these products. Then again revolutions were always thus…

More people are turning to social impact investing to not only bring home market rate returns, but also make a measurable positive social or environmental return, according to Christina Alfonso, founder and CEO of impact advisory firm Madeira Global.

“We are certainly seeing impact investing and social enterprise is increasing in visibility in the marketplace,” Alfonso says. “And retail investors and global banks are starting to take notice.”

This market is currently estimated to be between $30 and $50 billion, and has growth projections ranging from $500 billion and $1 trillion over the next decade, according to the Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN).

Whereas traditional philanthropic efforts may suffer from “donor fatigue,” Alfonso says social impact investing forces the recipient organization to be more accountable.

“It’s not dependent on raising donor dollars, which makes it an attractive alternative,” she says. “While it won’t replace traditional philanthropy, it will allow someone to get a financial return from a social mission.”
Looking to get started as a social investor? Here are a few tips from Alfonso.